Melbourne City will be the only side to reach 50 home and away A-League goals this season.
This presumption is made all the more impressive in that this merry band of merciless attackers has accomplished this feat with seven games remaining, and is on course to smash the record set by Brisbane Roar in the 2010-11 season (58). A possible failure to do so can be easily dismissed with star talents Bruno Fornaroli and Aaron Mooy firing on all cylinders.
John van’t Schip’s outfit deserves lashings of praise for improving on last season’s return (36) by 14 goals and counting, mainly thanks to excellent recruitment.
Perth Glory and Brisbane’s goalfest on Saturday night took both clubs to 35 goals apiece, a whopping 15 shy of City, while Western Sydney (33) and Melbourne Victory (30) drifted further behind City in the A-League’s scoring stakes with timid attacking displays in round 20.
If City’s current goalscoring rate (2.5 goals per game) can be maintained, the club’s regular season tally will stand at 67.5, a number that one would tend to round up rather than down.
To put that incredible ratio into context, scoring 2.5 goals per game easily tops all-comers in the English Premier League (Leicester City and Manchester City sit at a ratio of merely 1.84), but slightly behind German champions in-wait Bayern Munich (2.54) as well as the two finest attacking sides on the planet, Real Madrid (2.84) and Barcelona (2.68).
In no way does this comparison suggest the A-League sits atop football’s quality and prestige stakes along with Spain, Germany and England, but statistics of this nature are relative to the competition in question.
With a predicted final tally that could reach anywhere from low 60s to bursting past the 70 mark, a record of this nature is unlikely to be broken for some time.
Below are the remaining fixtures and thoughts/predictions on how far this goalscoring record will extend.
Note: The predictions only concern how many goals Melbourne City will score in each fixture, and does not include goals scored by the opposition.
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REMAINING FIXTURES
Round 21 – 26/2/16
Vs Wellington Phoenix @ Westpac Stadium
In two previous meeting this season, Ernie Merrick’s Phoenix have shipped eight goals in one A-League and FFA Cup tie, losing 3-1 and 5-1 respectively. It is extremely difficult to envision City scoring less than two in Wellington, especially when taking into account the Nix’s recent defensive record after conceding five goals in its last two matches, and without a clean sheet since round 14.
City prediction: Three goals
Tally: 53
Round 22 – 05/03/16
Vs Sydney FC @ AAMI Park
City have managed a mere three goals in two drawn meetings with Graham Arnold’s typically staunch Sydney FC. In both encounters, Sydney had the better quantity and quality of chances and thus looked the more likely of the two to win, largely stifling City’s attack and leaving Fornaroli and co to rely on counter-attacking football. Sydney’s resilience will continue on Harry Novillo’s return to City’s squad.
City goals: One
Tally: 54
Round 23 – 11/3/16
Vs Adelaide United @ Coopers Stadium
After announcing themselves as title contenders with a gritty 1-0 win against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park last round, heading to Coopers Stadium to face Adelaide United is a daunting task for any side. While the Victory lacked ideas, City will get more joy out of Adelaide’s sometimes porous defence.
City goals: Two
Tally: 56
Round 24 – 18/3/16
Vs Brisbane Roar @ AAMI Park
Has there ever been a less convincing title contender than this current Roar side? That is not to say that the Roar are not contenders, and certainly not without flashes of excellent play in season 11, but it is just that they have been doing something to shake that belief every other week of late.
City goals: Two
Tally: 58
Round 25 – 28/3/16
Vs Wellington Phoenix @ AAMI Park
The Nix should be mathematically out of finals contention by round 25, one would assume, and with the finals in sight, City will add a trio to their ever-impressive tally.
City goals: Three
Tally: 61
Round 26 – 3/4/16
Vs Perth Glory @ nib Stadium
In a game that fans of the A-League wish was happening a month or so earlier, this game will tell us a lot about both teams with the finals a fortnight away. Glory held City to a 2-2 draw at nib in January, but that was before Kenny Lowe’s side improved dramatically. This will be a finals-style, high-octane but cagey affair. Perhaps a score draw?
City goals: One
Tally: 63
Round 27 – 8/4/16
Vs Adelaide United @ AAMI Park
Could this match have implications for final regular season finishing positions? It could very well have, and is the perfect warm-up for City, coupled with the Glory fixture the week prior. El Tuna will cap off his first full season in the A-League with a brace, and City will be typically rampant in their home and away swansong.
City goals: Three
Final tally: 66 (2.44 goals per game)
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